Don't Miss the Implications of Internet of Things for Rural and Urban America

posted by Drew Clark | 178.40sc
April 03, 2016

The Broadband Communities Summitt will kick off this year in Austin, Texas, at 8 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, with a discussion of "The Internet of Things: Financial and Societal Implications for Rural and Urban America." Here's the panel description for the event:

Tuesday, April 5, 20168:00 am – 9:00 amFeatured Keynote Address: “The Internet of Things: Financial and Societal Impacts on Urban and Rural America” The Internet of Things promises new forms of automation – and new uses for broadband technology – but activities have been scattered among disparate applications. How will cities and rural areas alike benefit from “smart cities” and other Internet of Things applications?

What the Internet of Things Means for Local Governments

Increasingly, computing power is everywhere. The personal computer that once resided on the desktop migrated to the hip pocket and the wrist watch, and now to eyewear and clothing.

Welcome the “Internet of Things,” or IoT in tech jargon.

We may encounter these tiny technologies first in our homes or at work. But the IoT already has big implications for city leaders and managers charged with building “Smart Cities” and making their governments more responsive.

The IoT consumer gadgets on the market include smart doorbells, WiFi enabled toothbrushes, refrigerators that order groceries and ovens that can be scheduled to cook dinner. What has become known as the Internet of Things occurs when: 1.) digital sensors can be embedded onto almost any “thing,” 2.) almost every electronic device has some measurable processing power, and 3.) these devices can be networked together through the Internet.

Among the areas where the civic IoT is advancing most rapidly are in water management and waste removal, the electrical “smart grid,” and improving transportation — whether it be public transit, smoother automobile traffic or parking cars.